My husband likes do to dishes and clean the kitchen; he finds it relaxing. I can handle that. In fact, I can thank God for that.

In turn, Jason doesn’t care if the rest of the house is dirty, so I need to let it go and put it down farther on the priority list.

We’re fighting less (and when we fight we fight more fairly), even though this season leaves us more tired and worn out that we’ve ever been.

I’m able to finally recognize that some of my habits border on ridiculous and superfluous.

When we sat down and Jason told me all about his day on Oahu.

Putting the kids down, cooking dinner, and watching the PBS National Parks series (it took us over a year to finish all six discs).

After many long discussions, we’ve settled on the fact that we have very different expectations for vacation. I hope all these talks bode well in our planning of our first big trip since our honeymoon.

When, at the dinner table, I was about to shred cheese over his salad and Jason said “I like my cheese shredded long.” I rolled my eyes because if Jason obsesses about anything, it’s food.

The many times he’s told me I’m a good mom when I feel like a crappy mom.

How Jason raves about my bread making skills not because I make bread better than he does but because he knows I’m so proud of myself that I can actually make it.

Our attempts to garden together again yet another year, though I wish we had been more successful.

We have to have date nights out and reconnect over food (and not food we’ve cooked). It’s not optional. We learned this when we tried to go without while saving up for Hawaii.

The serious side of Jason

Sadly I don’t have any photos taken of us together this year. I guess that will be a goal for next year.